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Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Temaru to use French Presidential bid to raise decolonization issue

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Jan. 5, 2016) – French Polynesia's pro-independence opposition leader, Oscar Temaru, says he wants to stand for the French presidency next year because Tahiti's autonomy has not worked.

Mr Temaru says his ambition is not to move into the Elysee Palace but to become the highest scoring election candidate in French Polynesia as part of his campaign to decolonise the territory.

He says the autonomy status is almost 40 years old yet it is a failure.

"It has been modified, updated and retailored and it is a failure that even Gaston Flosse now recognises. We are now at this stage and write new chapters in this book of Maohi Nui - freedom."

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Tour companies expected to bring high rollers to gamble

By Dennis B. Chan

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, Jan. 6, 2016) – The Commonwealth Casino Commission has approved regulations and guidelines for junket operators who are expected to bring high rollers to gamble at the Saipan casino. Applications for junket license have been finalized and released to Best Sunshine International, Ltd., the owners of the Saipan casino, and other parties, commission executive director Edward C Deleon Guerrero said yesterday, and they are anticipating applications soon.

It’s believed that for a casino to be truly successful on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, the CNMI would need extensive marketing effort—or in the gaming world—a good well-managed, well-regulated junket operations.

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Cruz says administration officials should be held accountable

By Gaynor Dumat-ol Daleno and Shawn Raymundo

HAGÃ TÃA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, Jan. 5, 2016) – The controversial retroactive pay raises for 107 Adelup office staffers should lead to the filing of a criminal charge because the attorney general has determined those were illegal, said Vice Speaker Benjamin Cruz on Tuesday.

The raises, which were paid in December 2014 but were retroactive to a year for most of the staffers, cost Guam taxpayers more than $800,000.

Attorney General Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson issued a legal opinion last month stating the payments were illegal because retroactive pay raises are only allowed if authorized by a specific law.

"If it is against the law, then there are criminal sanctions," said Cruz. "Who those charges can be...

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

6 children killed, 1,700 confirmed cases should lead to vaccinations

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Jan. 6, 2016) – Health authorities in the Solomon Islands have identified the cause of a diarrhoea outbreak which has so far claimed the lives of six children.

There are 1,700 confirmed cases across six provinces.

The chairperson of the ministry of health's emergency and operations committee says lab results just back from Australia and Fiji indicate the presence of rotavirus in all patient samples.

Dr Chris Becha says a tailored response strategy is being finalised and will be made public tomorrow.

"We are activated and we already mobilised the committees. We are in touch with the provincial authorities. The plans were finalised and we are sourcing resources from WHO, UNICEF and also...

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Two helicopters to be based in Tongatapu, Vavaʻu

NUKU‘ALOFA, Tonga (Matangi Tonga, Jan. 4, 2016) – Tonga’s own life-saving helicopter service is expected to start in early 2016. The new helicopter service will also enable visitors to enjoy the beauty of Tonga from the air and to drop into remote island resorts.

Rodger McCutcheon, the man who has been working tirelessly during the past two years to establish a helicopter service for Tonga, told Matangi Tonga yesterday, 3 January that a 7-seater Eurocopter AS350 helicopter is expected to arrive by ship in Nuku’alofa on 31 January.

The AS350 helicopter will be the first of two helicopters to service Tonga.

"The first helicopter will be based in Tongatapu close to the CBD. The second helicopter will be based in Vava’u.

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Cultural experts call comments ‘stupid’ and ‘insulting’

By Pai Mulitalo Ale

APIA, Samoa (Samoa Observer, Jan. 6, 2016) – Police Commissioner, Fuiavailili Egon Keil, has come under further scrutiny from experts in the Samoan culture over comments about the matai system being run like the military.

The Tu'ua o Vailoa Palauli, Mata’afa Autagavaia Elia, was blunt with his response.

"That’s stupid," he said, "it’s not right."

He condemned the Commissioner, accusing him of not knowing much about the matai system since "he just became a matai yesterday."

"Respectfully, he shouldn’t be talking about things he doesn’t know much about," Mata’afa said. "The comparison is insulting to all Samoans."

The Tu’ua said Fuiava should become involved with village life where the matai system is practiced so he could...

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Agiru, ousted in no confidence vote, says political instability likely

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Jan. 6, 2016) – The tussle over the Hela Governor position between incumbent Anderson Agiru and Komo-Margarima MP Francis Potape has gone to court with Agiru seeking to maintain his role as governor.

Mr Agiru was ousted as Governor by the Hela provincial assembly in a vote of no-confidence last month and replaced with Mr Potape.

Mr Agiru went to the Waigani National Court yesterday and before Justice Derek Hartshorn sought permission to be allowed to remain as governor on the grounds that there could be instability at all levels of administration in the province if he was replaced.

He submitted through his lawyer Goiye Gileng that political instability was imminent and public funds could also be at...

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Most of 800 timely applications expected to be approved

By Dennis B. Chan

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, Jan. 6, 2016) – About 800 applications for contract worker permit renewals submitted at least 90 days before expiration would be processed "by the end of the day" yesterday, according to U.S Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (MP-Ind)—with the expectation that most of the 800 applications pending would be approved.

"A small number will require more evidence from the applicant," Sablan said in a statement yesterday, after a phone call with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service director Leon Rodriguez. "And an even smaller number will probably be denied, as is usually the case," Sablan added.

In early December, about 100 applicants—concerned about processing delays—came to the Sablan’s congressional office. Most...

His call for advocacy comes on the heels of an agreement between Japan and South Korea involving the abuse of "comfort women."

Late last month, the two governments reached an agreement in which more than $8.3 million will be provided to survivors who were forced into sexual slavery under Japanese imperial rule in the 1930s and ’40s, according to news reports.

In a letter to National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Blas on Wednesday reminded her that Guam too was under Japanese occupation during the war and also "endured unspeakable atrocities."

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Ministry preparing Domestic Violence Service Delivery protocol

By Siteri Sauvakacolo

SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Times, Jan. 7, 2016) – The setting up of a 24-hour domestic violence helpline and the first draft of a Domestic Violence Service Delivery are two important projects being considered by the Ministry and the Fiji Police Force.

Women Minister Rosy Akbar said a finalised domestic violence protocol would bind all service providers to a common assessment of risk, response frameworks, co-ordination and accountability.

She said the domestic violence helpline would ensure women were immediately connected with an advocate to assist with their safety, access to justice and rehabilitation.

"In addition to these approaches, the standard operating procedure agreed to and referred to in a memorandum of understanding between...

Pacific Islands Report is a nonprofit news publication of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Offered as a free service to readers, PIR provides an edited digest of news, commentary and analysis from across the Pacific Islands region, Monday - Friday.